Invitations to participate

At a time of declining development budgets, attention is turning to how to achieve greater impact with fewer resources. One of the strategies to achieve this is through innovative development financing (IDF) – the innovative use of funds to catalyse private investments for pro-poor or inclusive development. The next issue of Capacity.org journal aims to shed the spotlight on this important issue by highlighting experiences with IDF, especially at the meso and micro level. Capacity.org seeks contributions from researchers and practitioners with experience on this topic.

Latest thinking on capacity development

What are the main current debates, successes and challenges in capacity development identified in the last five years? The Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (www.gsdrc.org) is preparing a research briefing on current thinking in capacity development and would like to invite network members to suggest what you think have been the most important capacity development publications of the last five years and the most important current issues in the field. Please email any suggestions to brian@lencd.org.

Network news

The members of train4dev decided to rename the network learn4dev in 2012, and the network is now pleased to announce the launch of its new website providing easier access to information on upcoming learning events. learn4dev is a joint competence development network linking bilateral and multilateral organisations offering training and sharing knowledge on ways to strengthen competencies and improve results.

CD insights: selected case stories, research, and shared experience

In 2001, the Electoral Commission of Zambia faced a tense presidential and parliamentary election. The commission needed a new mechanism to stave off conflict, clarify responsibilities for dispute resolution, and provide complainants with an effective outlet for their concerns. Inspired by the use of a similar system in South Africa, the commission leaders developed conflict management committees at both the national and district levels. The committees—comprising representatives from political parties, law enforcement, civil society, and faith-based organizations—mediated conflicts related to violations of the electoral code of conduct. The electoral commission piloted the committees in the 2001 elections, before fully implementing and strengthening the committees at the national level and in the 74 electoral districts for the 2006 elections. The mediation system helped Zambia navigate an unexpected by-election following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa in 2008 and an opposition victory over the ruling party in 2011. Though some challenges remained, the electoral commission staff and committee members credited the committees with helping the country navigate competitive elections and reduce tensions between competing parties.

The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact has published an Education Manual on Indigenous Elders and Engagement with Government to help build and strengthen the capacity of indigenous elders in Asia to lead their communities in the face of momentous changes and threats to survival. The manual highlights the role of indigenous elders in traditional leadership and in sustaining indigenous socio-political institutions, values and systems. It promotes the role of indigenous elders in asserting indigenous peoples' rights and aims to equip elders and leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to be able to advance their peoples' rights. It also aims to arm indigenous peoples with the capacity to effectively engage in local and national government structures and processes.

To what extent can the rule of law be established through deliberate interventions (domestic or international)? Cross-country evaluations show that different types of rule of law reform programmes have had disappointing, limited or no impacts on the establishment of rule of law. Recurring issues around the design and implementation of international rule of law interventions are reported by different donors, in different countries and sectors. A common criticism is that rule of law reform does not take into account the importance of domestic political commitment to reform. A number of evaluations point out that short-term interventions are unlikely to lead to sustainable establishment of rule of law. More investment in the monitoring and evaluation of results is needed.

People and organisations working on knowledge management and knowledge brokering in international development are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the relevance and impact of their work, but there has been a lack of good practice guidance on indicators to support both external accountability and learning. This workshop brought together 30 practitioners from across the international development sector in March 2013 to share indicators in current practice, explore common issues and challenges, and collaborate to improve KM/KB indicators. This report presents a pool of 100 indicators for knowledge management and knowledge brokering which were discussed at the workshop.